Machine gun mount



May 19, 1931. G. |RONS|DE v1,805,547

MACHINE GUN MOUNT Filed Feb. 24, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mentar @U1/:gekans/Ue @f MJZZT/w/ May 19, 1931. G. lRoNslDE MACHINE GUN MOUNT FiledFeb. 24, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 p., e m// V. W/ .MEAW

Patented May 19, 1931 FTFNT @FFQE GEORGE IRONSIDE, OF HARTFOR),CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO COLTS PATENT' FIRE ARMSMANUFACTURENG CC., OFHARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A. CDB-PORATION 0F CONNECTICUT MACHINE GUN MOUNTl.Application led February 24, 1930. Serial No. 430,?36. v

rI`he invention 'relates particularly to a machine gun mount which is soconstructed that the gunV thereon may be conveniently' held in arelatively low position for low angle firing or in a relatively highposition for high angle firing in anti-aircraft service.

The primary object of the invention is to provide amount of the classdescribed wherein the transition from the low position to the highposition, or vice versa, may be quickly and conveniently effectedwithout removal of the gun from the mount. A machine gun mountconstructed in accordance with the invention is adapted to support amachine gun of standard construction without any modification whatsoeverin the gun itself; and the shifting of the gun from its low position toits high position may be effected without dei taching the gun from themount and without handling the forward hot portion of the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine gun mountof the class described, improved means for supporting the bracket whichholds the cartridge magazine so that the said magazine is held in properoperative relationship with the gun for all positions thereof.

Further objectsv of the invention will be apparent from the followingspecification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the embodiment of theinvention which I now deem preferable, but it will be understood thatthe drawings are intended for il` lustrative purposes only and are notto be construed as definingor limiting the scope.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figs. 1 and 8, but showing theparts in still different relative positions.

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the upperportion of the machine gun mount.

6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along` the line7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, l represents as an entirety a gun tripodwhich is or may be of any usual or preferred construction. Mounted uponthe tripod l for rotation about a vertical axis is a head 2. A suitableclamping means controlled by a lever 2 3 is provided for clamping thehead in any position of adjustment with respect to the tripod. Connectedwith the head 2 isa cradle 4 which is movable about a horizontal axis at5 and which preferably comprises two side plates 6, 6 spaced apart andlocated at opposite sides of the head. Spacing tubes 7, 7 and tie bolts8, 8 therethrough assist in maintainingl the plates 6, 6 inproper spacedrelationship. A suitable clamping means controlled by a lever 9 isprovided for clamping the cradle at any desired position of 'angularadjustment. rIhe parts as thus far described are of known constructionand more detailed description not necessary.

The mount is adapted for supporting a machine gun such as G. I haveshown a inachine gun ofthe type shown in the'J. M. Browning Patent No'.1,293,021 dated February 4, 1919, but it will be' understood that thepresent invention is not limited for use with a gun of this particulartype. The main trunnion block of the gun (which is not separately shownin the drawings) is provid ed with a transverse hole adapted to receivea pivot pin 10 having a handle l0a andthe gun is proivded near the rearwith lugs hay# ingtransverse holes therein adapted to receiveY aretaining pin ll having a handle lla. In ordinary service the gun issupported and held in place on the mount by means ofthe two pins 10 and11. y

Inaccordance with the present invention I provide a means relativelymovable with respect to the cradle 4 and adapted to engage the gun atthe horizontal trunnion axis thereof at 10 so as to hold the gun ineither of two positions with the said axis 10 either adjacent the cradleaxis 5 as shown in Fig. 1 or with the trunnion axis relatively remotefrom the cradle axis 5 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. is concerns thebroader aspects of the invention I do not limit myself as concerns thedetails ot' this means, but I prefer and have shown a means whichcomprises at least one, and preferably two, links which are horizontallypivoted to the cradle and which are connectible to the gun at the saidtrunnion axis thereof. `When the cradle comprises two separate verticalplates 6, 6 as are shown, l preferably provide two separate links 12 and13 located at the outer sides of the respective plates (l, G and j)iveted thereto by means of a tranverse pivot pin 14 e.\teii iln ingthrough both plates and both links. rFhe pin 14 is Isurrounded by aspacing Lube 15 which extends between the two side plates.

The opposite or treeends ot the links 12 and 13 have transverse holestherein tor re ceiving the before-mentioned pivot pin 10, this pinextending through the transverse opening at the trunnion axis of the gunas already described. rlhe holes in the right hand link 12 and in thegun are unthreaded, but the hole in the left hand link 13 is threaded toreceive the threaded end of the pin 10. By means of this threadedengagement the pin 10 when turned by the handle 10rt may serve as ameans for frictionally clamping the links to the gun. Preferably thelinks 12 and 18 are provided with bosses 12fL and 13a which enternotches 16 formed in the respective side plates 6, 6. When the saidbosses are seated in the said notches the links are firmly supported intheir normal positions as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The links maybe po-sitively held in their normal positions by means of a transversepin 17 having a handle 17a. The pin extends through holes in the linksand cradle plates and has threaded engagement with the lett h and link13 as shown in Fig. 6.' The pin 17, and if desired the pins 10 and 11also, may be attache by means of suitable chains.

The cradle 4 is preferably provided with the usual adjusting means forproviding tine adjustments in the angle of elevation ot the gun. Asillustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, there is a yoke 18 having trunnions 19,1f) which are rotatable in suitable apertures in the two cradle plates5, 6. The yoke 18 is provided with a threaded aperture in which isiitted a threaded sleeve 20 provided with a hand wheel 21. The centralhole through the sleeve 20 is threaded and iitted therein is a threadedrod 22 which rod is connected with an apertured head 23 through whichextends the transverse retaining pin 11 which has been mentioned. Thethreads on the eXterior and on the interior of the sleeve 20 are ofdiiieerent pitches so as to provide a fine ad justment of the angle ofthe gun by turning the hand wheel 21.

By removing` the pins 11 and 17, and by also loosing the pin 10 ifnecessary, the gun and the two links are suiiiciently freed to permitthem to be moved relatively to the cradle to the position shown in Fig.3. It will be understood that the links swing about the pin 14. Stops24, 24 on the side plates G, 6 serve to prevent movement of the linksbeyond the position shown. As soon asl the parts have reached theposition shown in Fig. 3, the pin 1T is again putin place, the pin nowextending through holes 17b provided for the purpose in the side plates6,'(3. The pin 11 is preferably also restored to its normal post tion inthe holes in the lugs of the gun, in order that it may serve a purposeto be prefently described.

After the parts have been moved to the positions shown in Fig. 3 andafter the links have been locked by means oi.: the pin li', the cradlecan be unclamped by loosing the lever 9 and can be swung te its uprightposition as shown in Fig. 4 and again clamped. Movement of the cradlebeyond the upright position as shown is prevented by means ot stops 25,25 on the plates 6, 6. rlhis moven ment of the cradle brings the gun toa relatively high position as shown. The gun is freely adjustable aboutthe pivot pin 10, that is, about its own trunnion axis, and it may bemoved to a high angle of elevation as indicated by dot-and-dash lines inFig. 4. T he high position of the gun enables the gunner to convenientlyand comfortably sight and operate it.

It will be clear that in shifting the gun from its low position as shownin Fig. 1 to its high position as shown in Fig. 4, the gun remainspermanently attached to the mount. The change in position is electedwithout any substitution or addition oi' parts and is effected merely bychanging the relative positions oi the links 12 and 13 and then bychanging the angular position ot the cradle 4. To permit the Change inthe positions of the links, it is only necessary to remove the two pins11 Vand 17 and to then replace thein. rl`he return oi the gun 'from itshigh position as shown in Fig. 4 to its low position as shown in Fig. 1is equally simple and involves merely the reversals of the operationswhich have already been described. It will be observed that thisshitting oi the gun from its low position to its high position or backfrom its high position to its low position may be effected withouthandling of the Jrorward hot portion of the gun, it being only necessaryfor the gunner to touch the mount and the rear portion of the gun.

In order that the cartridge magazine may remain in properoperative-relationship to the gun for all positions thereof l provide anovel supporting means for the magazine. The magazine is indicated inthe drawings at M and it is adapted to be detachably mounted Von abracket 26 which is of substantially standard construction. rl`hebracket 26 is supported at least in part independently of the gun, andpreferably it is carried by av link 27 which at its forward end ispivoted independently of the gun for movement about the axis of thepivot pin l0. Preferably the link 27 is pivoted directly to the lefthand link 18, and as shown in Fig. 7 the link 13 is provided with abearing boss 13b upon which the link 27 is pivoted. in place by the headof a special bolt 28. in order that access may be han to the bolt headthe bracket 26 is preferably cut away as indicated. at 26n .in Fig. 2.The link 27 is held in its proper relationship with the gun by means ofthe beforementioned pin 1l which is made suiliciently long to enter atapered hole 27 in the rear end of the link 27. ln order that the link27 may not drop down when the pin ll is removed preparatory to shiftingthe position of the gun there is provided a lug 27b which overlies theadjacent link 13. l

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that inasmuch as thelink 27 is held by the two pins l() and 1l it is maintained in Y fixedrelationship with the gun for all positions thereof, thus holding thebracket 26 and the magazine M in fixed relationship with the gun. Thelink 27 is released only momentarily during the removal and replacementof the pin 1l and it is then prevented from moving to any considerableextent by means of the lug 27".

W'hat I claim is:

1. In a mount for a machine gun, the combination of a tripod, a headcarried by the tripod, a cradle connected with the head for movementabout a horizontal axis, and a means relatively movable with respect tothe cradle and adapted to engage a machine gun at the horizontaltrunnion axis thereof to hold the said gun in either of two positionswith the said axis either adjacent the cradle axis or relatively remotetherefrom, the gun when in the first position being relatively low andin normally fixed relationship to the cradle so that the angle of thegun may be adjusted by movingthe cradle about its axis and the gun whenin the second position being freely adjustable about its trunnion axisand being bodily movable t0 a relatively high position upon movement ofthe cradle to its upright position.

2. A mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim l, wherein the meansfor engaging and holding the gun comprises a link horizontally pivotedto the cradle and connectible to the gun at the trunnion axis thereof.

3. A mount for a machine gun as set' forth The link 27 is heldV in claiml, wherein the means for engaging and holding the gun comprises a linkhorizontally pivoted to the cradle and connectible to the gun at'thetrunnion' axis thereof, and wherein there is included means locking the'link in the position corresponding to the second said position of thegun.

4. A mount for a machine gun as set forth lin claim l, wherein the meansfor engaging and holding the gun comprises a` link horizontally pivotedto the cradle and connectible to the gun at the trunnion axis thereof,and wherein there is included an additional means det-achablyconnectible with the gun when in its first position for effectinglimited angular adjustment thereof with resp-ect to the cradle.

5. A mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim l, wherein the cradlecomprises two vertical plates spaced apart, and wherein the means forengaging and holding` the gun comprises two links horizontally pivotedto the cradle at the outer sides of the plates and connectible to thegun at the trunnion axis thereof.

6. A mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim l, wherein the cradlecomprises two vertical plates spaced apart and having notches adjacentthe cradle axis, and wherein thermeans forengaging and holding the guncomprises two gun engaging links horizontally pivoted to the cradle atthe outer sides of the plates and having bosses adapted to enter thesaid notches.

7. A mount for a machine gun as setforth in claim l, wherein the cradlecomprises two vertical plates spaced apart, wherein the means forengaging and holding the gun comprises two links horizontally piv-otedto the cradle at the outer sides of the platesI and connectible to thegun at the trunnion axis thereof, and means for releasably holding thegun in any position of angular adjustment with respect to the links.

8. A. mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim l, wherein thecradle comprises two vertical plates spaced apart, wherein the means forengaging and holding the gun comprises two links horizontally pivoted tothe lcradle at the outer sides of the plates, and `wherein there isincluded a transverse pivot pin for connecting the gun with the links,the said pin extendingy through tranversc Unthreaded holes in one linkand in the trun nion block of the gun and having threaded engagementwith the other link whereby upon turning the bolt the gun may befrictionally clamped between the links.

9. In a mount fora machine gun, the combination of a tripod, a headcarried by the tripod, a cradle connected with the head for movementabout a horizontal axis, a means relatively movable with respect to thecradle and adapted to engage a machine gun at the horizontal trunnionaxis thereof to hold the said gun in either of two positions with thesaid aXis either adjacent the cradle aXis or relatively remotetherefrom, the gun when in the first position being relatively low andin normally fixed relationship to the cradle so that the angle of thegun may be adjusted by moving the cradle about its aXis and the gun whenin the second position being freely adjustable about its trunnion axisand being bodily movable to a relatively high position upon movement ofthe cradle to its upright position, and means supported at least in partindependently of the gun for holding a cartridge magazine in operativerelationship with the gun for all positions thereof.

10. A mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim 9, wherein the meansfor engaging and holding the gun comprises a link horizontally pivot'edto the cradle and connectible to the gun at the trunnion axis thereof,and wherein the magazine holding means is movable with the gun andrelatively to the said link. Y y

ll. A mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim 9, wherein thecradle comprises two Vertical plates lspaced apart, wherein the meansfor engaging and holding the gun comprises two links horizontallypivoted to the cradle at the outer sides of the plates and connectibleto the gun at the trunnion axis thereof, and wherein there is included athird link connected at one end to one of the irst said links formovement about the saine axis as the gun, the said third link carryingthe magazine holding means and being connectible at its other end to thegun.

12. A mount for a machine gun as set forth in claim 9,'wherein thecradle comprises two vertical plates spaced apart, wherein the means forengaging and holding the gun com prises two links horizontally pivotedto the cradle at the outer sides of the plates and connectible to thegun at the trunnion axis thereof, and wherein there is included a thirdlink connected at one end to one of the lirst said links for movementabout the same axis as the gun, the said third link carrying themagazine holding means and being connectible at its other end to the gunand the said third link being provided with a stop for limiting downwardmovement'thereof with respect to the corresponding first link when theparts are in the positions corresponding to the first said position ofthe gun.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day ofFebruary, 1930.

' Y GEORGE IRONSIDE.

